Re: One for the little guys!

Originally Posted by luther.r

The only micro I've been impressed with is the Leopold Bros. American Small Batch Whiskey. It doesn't try to be a highly-aged product, but it's great for what it is. I'd like to try the McKenzie Rye, as well as other things Tom makes when they get older.

I bought some of the McKenzie Rye today. I really like it. It's only aged a year, but they use smaller casks and then finish it in sherry casks. It doesn't taste young at all. It reminds me of Scotch.

Re: One for the little guys!

[QUOTE=Dolph Lundgren;340759]I'm not a fan of "craft" whiskey. Its too woody and young; there is something statutory about it all. But I had a chance to taste Journeyman Distillery's Kissing Cousins at WhiskeyFest this year, and I was impressed. It wasn't liquid gold - but it was good..more than just palatable, which I think goes a long way. Kissing Cousins is only a year old and finished in a Cabernet Sauvignon barrel. The wine influence is strong and flavor profile is not typical - but its good, so who cares. If I run across a bottle, I'll buy one.

My wife set up a tour this last weekend for us for our anniversary (yes, she's the best) at Journeyman here in Michigan. They didn't have Kissing Cousins but of the 5 whiskey's I did taste, I liked them all - some more than others obviously. The bourbon I thought was very tasty. I was apprehensive because of all the negatives of small barrels, but I enjoyed them.

Dolph, the distillery is just around the lake from you. It would make a nice day trip.

Re: One for the little guys!

[QUOTE=mhatzung;372079]

Originally Posted by Dolph Lundgren

I'm not a fan of "craft" whiskey. Its too woody and young; there is something statutory about it all. But I had a chance to taste Journeyman Distillery's Kissing Cousins at WhiskeyFest this year, and I was impressed. It wasn't liquid gold - but it was good..more than just palatable, which I think goes a long way. Kissing Cousins is only a year old and finished in a Cabernet Sauvignon barrel. The wine influence is strong and flavor profile is not typical - but its good, so who cares. If I run across a bottle, I'll buy one.

My wife set up a tour this last weekend for us for our anniversary (yes, she's the best) at Journeyman here in Michigan. They didn't have Kissing Cousins but of the 5 whiskey's I did taste, I liked them all - some more than others obviously. The bourbon I thought was very tasty. I was apprehensive because of all the negatives of small barrels, but I enjoyed them.

Dolph, the distillery is just around the lake from you. It would make a nice day trip.

Oh, I've been. What a great space in a cool little artsy town. I totally dig it. When I was there I enjoyed the Ravenswood Rye and the Silver Cross, but I really didn't care for the Featherbone Bourbon. The strong wood influence of small barrels was less on the rye. I saw a few larger 53 gallon barrels in their storage room, so maybe they're transitioning. I think, given the quality of the their distillate, their whiskey aged 5 to 8 years in a regular sized barrel would be great (especially at cask strength).

Re: One for the little guys!

Originally Posted by zillah

The vermouth aged rye is great. Taste just like a Manhatan!

That sounds awesome! I imagine the Vermouth influence would work wonders. Dave over at High West released a Double Rye aged 6 months in a reused Manhattan-aged cocktail barrel and it was fantastic - a 90 proof Manhattan. All it needed was a cherry and you were good to go.

Re: One for the little guys!

I bought some of the McKenzie Rye today. I really like it. It's only aged a year, but they use smaller casks and then finish it in sherry casks. It doesn't taste young at all. It reminds me of Scotch.

let me add to this, the rye you get from us today is 3 year old rye aged in standard 53 gallon barrels. Still finished in sherry barrels. When first released it was aged a year in small barrels. But the whole time, we were stacking it away in 53s as well.